Merchandise container and apparatus for transferring the same



R. F. MATTOX 2,165,641

- MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANsFERRl NG THE SAME July11, 1939.

, e SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1955 R. F. MATTOX 2,165,641

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME July 11,1939.

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MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS FERRING THE SAME File dMay 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W wmwww Q m n n u I mw ww ,H-

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R. F. MATTOX July 11, 1939.

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME65heets-Sheet 4 Filed May 15, 1935- July 11, 1939. R. F. MATTOX2,165,641

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME Filed May15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 511N541 tilwliiniiilm 9. .A M \M \N 1 SN N M NZ A R. MATTOX July 11-, 1939.

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME Filed May15, 1935 6 SheetsSheet 6 Patented July 11, 1939 MERCHANDISE CONTAINERAND APPARA- TUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME,

Ralph Franklin Mattox. Dundalk, Md. Application May 15, 1935, Serial No.21,527

23 Claims.

- My invention relates in general to freight transporting and handlingdevices, and 'more particularly to the mechanism for transfer'iincontainers from railway cars to a motor truck or vice versa.

Sectional box cars or containers are usually mounted for shipment onflat railway cars provided with a load supporting floor ,or platformadapted to receive and support a plurality of individual shippingcontainers. These individual containers are particularly adapted for usein connection with a railway transportation system for handling andshipping of large quantities of material such for examples, as freight,merchandise, parcel post, express material etc. in separate andindividual groups or units which can be fiiignsferred from the car to amotor vehicle or the One of the objects of my invention relates to thecarriage constructidh and the mechanism .for

advancing and retracting the carriage.

Another object of my invention relates to the means for positioning andholding the containers in a .fixed position on the railway car and motortruck.

Another object of my invention relates'to the means mounted on themovable carriages for raising or lowering the containers into or out ofengagement with the positioning means on the railway car or motor truck.

Another object of my invention relates to the mechanism for verticallyadjusting the carriages and actuating mechanism therefor, and forholding the truck in a fixed position during the transferring of thecontainers.

Another object of my invention relates to the means for supporting thecontainer independent of the truck after it has been raised in anelevated position in such a manner that the truck can be run frombeneath the container when thus supported, or backed underneath thesame, so

' riages and actuating mechanism therefor with its that the containercan be again lowered-onto the truck. For this purpose I use a pluralityof supporting legs which are pivotally connected to the containers.

Another object of my. invention relates to forming the containers withrecesses. so that the pivoted supporting legs can be telescoped thereinwhen not in use.'

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Referring now to the accompanying six sheets of drawings which form apart of this specification and on which like characters "of referencedenote like parts:

Figure l is a side elevation of a flat railway car mechanism mountedthereon indicated in full lines in the lowered position, the footportions of the jacks for vertically adjusting the transferringmechanism being in the raised position, and a 15 container seated on thetruck illustrated in section Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a portion ofa railway car and truck located adjacent to each other as in Fig. 2 butshowing the carriage and actuat- 2 ing mechanism therefor in full linesbefore they have been extended.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the roller sprocket chain at thepoint where it is attached to the bracket plate of the carriage. 1 25Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of'the carriages and the actuatingmechanism for reciprocating the same drawn on a larger scale. 'Fig. 7 isa transverse sectional view taken on the broken line of Fig. 3 butshowing the 30 container elevated and supported on its legsabovethetruck. 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a detailsectio'n taken on the line 9---!! 35 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken on the line ill-I0 of Fig. 8. I, I

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on the line lI-ll of Fig. '7. g 40Fig. 12 is an end elevation of one of the cardriving gears and casingsurrounding the same shown in section.

Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section 45 through the actuatingmechanism for one of the carriages taken on the linel3- -l3 of Fig. 12,and

Fig. 14 illustrates a modified form of actuating mechanism which I mayuse for reciprocating the carriages.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings: Arailway car of the flat type is indicated as I, having a floor 2,comprising channel tracks 3, and saddle seating channels 4, extendingtransversely. of the car floor 55 at spaced intervals and disposed withtheir flanges extending vertically upwardly and their webs adapted torest on the tops of the center and side sills and form the cross bearingmembers for the car underframe.

Between the spaced channels 3 and 4, the floor is formed of woodenplanking 5. The saddle seating channels 4, have transversely extendingrods or bars 6, welded thereto at spaced intervals adapted to engagenotches 1 stormed in the flanges of channels 8, which are secured to I-beams 8 attached transversely to the floor of the containers I8. Whenthe containers H) are seated on the car-l, the bars 6 engage thenotches] of the channels 8 and prevent the containers from shifting.

The opposite ends of the saddle seating channels 4, each have their websslotted as at H for the passage of a swinging stop l2, pivoted as at |3to hinge blocks |4. These swinging stops |2 when in the position shownin full lines in Fig. 8 engage the ends of the channels 8, and I-beams9, and further prevent the shifting of the containers. Each stop beingheld in the raised position by means of a wedge l5, which is insertedthrough an opening |6 in the stop and engages the tops of the hingeblocks l4. When the wedge I5 is withdrawn the stop will swing downwardlyinto the position indicated in dotted lines in the above mentionedfigure, and to prevent the loss of the wedge it is connected to the stopby a flexible connection |1.

As indicated in Figs. 3, '1 and 11, a bracket arm I8 is pivoted as at l8to the opposite outer ends of each I-beam 8, each having its projectingend formed with a sleeve portion 28 for receiving a leg 2|, and a shortbifurcated arm 22, to which is pivoted as at 23, the eye of anadjustable rod 24. This adjustable rod has its projecting portionswiveled in a support 25, which is held in a keeper 26 secured to thebottom of the container near each corner.

After the rod 24 has been adjusted it is held in position by means of aset screw 21. A series of perforations 28 are formed in the legs, whichare adapted to register with a perforation in the sleeve portion 28 forreceiving a pin 28 for holding the legs in the desired adjusted positionwhen in use. When the legs are not in use they are adapted to betelescoped into recesses 38 formed in each corner of the container.These recesses having their inner walls formed of a bent plate 3|, theedges of which are welded to the inside of the container, an opening 32being formed in the floor of each corner of the container for thepassage of the legs The intermediate portion of the floor of thecontainer is further reinforced by means of transverse I- beams 33.

The numeral 34 indicates a motor truck, the

floor of which above the longitudinal sills 35 r is provided with a'pairof transverse ways 36, and

saddle seating channels 31 of similar construction to the saddle seatingchannels 4 on the railway car above described. In each of the transversewayslis'm'ounted a carriage andactuating mechanismtherefor adapted toreciprocate the said carriages. Means is also shown for simultaneouslyraising and lowering the carriages and actuating mechanism, and meansfor raising and lowering the containers in relation to the ..carriages.

It will be understood that both the carriages and operating mechanismconnected therewith are operated together-simultaneously, and as eachare of the same construction but rights and lefts, a description of onewill apply to both.

The carriage 38 and actuating mechanism 38 therefor are mounted on arectangular frame 48, formed of longitudinally and transversely disposedchannels 4| and 42 respectively, the lower flanges of which are allconnected together by means of a cover plate 43. A longitudinallyextending channel forming a trackway 44 for the carriage 38 is securedto one side of the top of the rectangular frame, the channel having itsweb secured to the top of the frame with its flanges extending upwardly.All of said parts of said frame being preferably welded together to forma rigid structure.

The carriage is formed of a pair of spaced 'channels 45 having theirwebs vertically disbe reinforced at this point. Said axles 46 havingrollers 41 on their outer ends engaging the trackway 44 to facilitatethe movement of the carriages on the trackways. The channels 45 arefurther connected together by means of lifting jacks, comprising fluidpressure cylinders 48,, having top flanges 48. Each of said fluidpressure cylinders 48 being provided with a piston 58 having their upperends flanged as at 5|, to which are secured threaded stub-shafts 52having adjustable nuts 53 mounted thereon for engaging the flange 48, tolimit the upward movement of the pistons. The fluid pressure cylinders48 in both of the carriages are connected together and adapted toreceive their fluid pressure from a suitable source of supply preferablymounted on the truck, through pipe connections 54. The top flanges ofthe channels 45 are connected together by means of central and end topcover plates 55 and 56 respectively, and are further connected at anintermediate point by means of a bracket-plate 51, which extendslaterally from one side of the top of the carriage and is connected asat 58 to the sprocket chain 58, of the actuating mechanism at the sideof the carriage.

The actuating mechanism for reciprocating the carriage comprises amovable frame 68 formed of a pair of spaced channels 6|, disposed withtheir webs vertically and their flanges extending outwardly. The topflanges being connected together by means of a cover plate 62.

Shafts 63 of sprocket wheels 64, are journaled in opposite ends of themovable frame. The sprocket chain 58 connects the sprocket wheels 64.The ends of said sprocket chain 58 being connected as at 65 and 66 tothe stationary hearing block 61.

Between the path of the sprocket chain 58 is mounted a traveling feedscrew 68, havingone end reducedand formed plain andkeyed to a movablesliding block 68, which is secured thereto by means of a nut 18. Theopposite end of the feed screw is threaded into a rotating sleeve nut 1|journaled in the stationary bearing block 61. The inner end of thesleeve nut 1| is formed with a beveled gear 12, which'meshes with asimilar beveled gear 13 mounted on the upper end of a stub-shaft", whichis journaled in the stationary bearing block 61.] A flexible coupling 15is secured to the lower end of the stub-shaft 14, from which extends asquared slidably movable shaft-16 provided with a beveled gear 11,meshing with 'a beveled gear 18 mounted on a'drive shaft 18, which isconnected in any suitable manher with the transmission mechanism (notshown) of the motor truck from which it is controlled and receives itspower.

The movable sliding block 69 is perforated as at 80 for the passage ofthe sprocket chain 59 and is supported on a pair of guide rods 8I, saidguide rods having one of their ends secured in sockets formed in thestationary block 61, and the opposite ends secured in a bracket 82mounted on one end of the rectangular frame 40.

It will be readily perceived from the foregoing description that thecarriage 38 will be projected from the truck or other support at twicethe rate of movement and for twice the distance that the actuatedassembly 39 is moved.

As illustrated each rectangular frame 40, with the carriages andactuating means therefor, mounted thereon in the transverse ways 36, areadapted to be raised or lowered by means of jacks 83, operated by fluidpressure. Each jack 83 has the upper end of its cylinder 84 rounded toengage a socket I03. A socket member being secured near the oppositeends of each frame 40. The upper end of each cylinder 84 being pivotedas at I04, from which point they extend downwardly therefrom throughopenings in the webs of the channel shaped members I05 forming thetransverse ways 36 and engage the outside of each longitudinal side sill35 of the truck, thereby allowing for vertical movement and preventinglongitudinal movement of the frame.

The jacks 83 each have pistons 85 provided with an enlarged base portion86, which is adapted to be projected by means of fluid pressure from asuitable source of supply admitted through pipes 81 eithersimultaneously or individually, and each retracted when the fluidpressure is exhausted by means of a pair of helical springs 88, saidsprings each having one end attached to a flange B9 on the base portionand the other attached to an eye formed in the lower end of a rib 90 onthe side of the jack cylinder 84.

It will be understood that each pair of jacks 83 may be initiallyoperated simultaneously by fluid pressure, but each jack must also beindividually controlled by a valve to give final adjustment to each ofthe jacks in case the surface upon which the truck stands is uneven;

In Fig. 14 I have shown a modified form of actuating mechanism' for' thecarriagesin which the feed-screw 9| is rotatably mounted but having itsendsajournaled in fixed bearings 92 and .93, the feed screw having a:beveled gear 94 mounted thereon meshing'with a. beveled gear 95 onaiverticallyslidingshaft 98,- which is con- :nected with thetransmissionme'chanism of the motor truck. A sprockettchain 91 isattached to I bracket plate '51- at" the point 99.

the fixed. bearing 92'asrat98, and to the carriage A traveling movablenut-I00 is threaded on the rotating feed screw 9f having'a flangedextension IN, to which is journaled'the shaft of a sprocket wheel I02.

As the feed-screw shaft is rotated in the required direction the nut I00with the sprocket wheel I02 will travel from one end of the threadedfeed screw 9| to the other toadvance or retract the carriage. Otherwisethe mechanism and operation is-substantially the same as abovedescribed.

Having thus given the foregoing general and detailed description of myinvention, I will now describe its operation: Assuming that it isdesired to transfer a container from the railway car I, indicated inFigure 1 to the motor truck 34, indicated in Fig. 3, for delivery to awarehouse or the like. The motor truck with the transferring mechanismmounted thereon is run alongside of the railway car until the twocarriages are opposite the ends of the two channel trackways 3 on thecar so that when the carriages are vertically adjusted they willregister with the said trackways. The wedges I5 on the side ofthe caropposite the truck for holding the stops I2 in the raised position arethen withdrawn allowing the stops to swing downwardly out of the way.Fluid pressure is then admitted to the jacks 83 through the supply pipes81, thereby projecting the pistons 85 downwardly until the enlarged baseportions engage the road or surface upon which 'the truck is standingthereby holding the truck in a fixed position. The frame 40 whichsupports the carriages 38 and actuating mechanisms for the same willthen be raised until the outer ends of the carriages opposite the rail'way car register with'the channel trackways 3, as indicated in fulllines in Fig. 4. Power is applied to the actuating mechanism from themotor truck transmission to rotate the sleeve nut in a clockwisedirection when viewed from its right hand end in Fig, 13, therebyadvancing the car-f riage with the rollers 41 into the two channeltrackways 3 underneath the container as indithe motor truck 34. Thefluid pressure is then exhausted from the jacks 48 on thecarriages, sothat the notches I in the channels '8 will engage the bars 6 on thesaddle seating channels 4 on the truck, after which the fluid pressurewill be exhausted from the jacks 83; thereby allowing the pistons 85 tobe raised by meansof the helical springs .88. With the, truck thusloaded the container may be delivered to a warehouse or the likedestination and the contents unloaded onthe truck. If however it isdesired to leave the container, or unload it from the truck, I providemeans for supporting the container in an elevated positionindependently,of

--the truck at any p int or locality-where loading or unloading mightbedesired, so that the chassis of the truck can be run from under, orbacked under the container. When this is required fluid pressure-isadmitted to the jacks 48 on the carriages 38 and the containers raisedout of engagement with thebody of the truck. The pins 29 holding thetelescoped legs are then removed allowing the said legs .to slidedownwardly through the sleeves 20 until their-lower ends reach the floororsurface upon which the truck ,is standing. The set screws 21 are thenloosened and the'legs 2I and bracket arms I8 swung laterally andthe-pins 29 inserted in the holes 28, and the set screws 21 tightened onthe adjustable rods 24. The fluid pressure is then exhausted fromthe-jacks 48 allowingthe truck to be run out from under. the containerwhich is then left supported by the legs as indicated in Fig. 7

When it is desired to return the container to the railway car the truckis run under the container until the notches register with the bars 8 onthe saddle seating channels 31. The pistons of the Jacks are then raisedby fluid pressure to support the container, the set screws 21 loosenedand the pins 29 removed from the holes 28, the legs can then be returnedto the recesses and held in the raised position by the pins 29 passedthrough the holes in the sleeves 20, and the holes near the lower endsof the legs, the pistons of the jacks 48 are then lowered and thecontainer seated on the truck and transported to the railway car, againraised by means of the jacks 48 until it is above the seating surfacesof the truck, the carriages are again brought into alignment with thechannel tracks 3 by means of the jacks 83, the carriages are thenoperated by the actuating mechanism to transfer the container to therailway car, the pistons 50 of the jacks 48 are then lowered and thecontainer is seated as before in its initial position, the actuatingmechanisms then return the carriages to the truck the fluid pressureexhausted from the jacks 83, and the mechanism returned to the positionillustrated in Fig. 3, from which position the operations abovedescribed may be repeated.

In Figs. 2, 3, '7, 8, and 11, I have shown the recesses for receivingthe legs 2| formed with an inner wall 3|. I may however dispense withthis inner wall and form the recesses open by bending the corners of theouter wall of the containers inwardly into substantially the sameposition as that assumed by the inner wall 3|.

As illustrated the railway car floor 2, is formed with channel tracks 3and saddle seating channels 4. I may however form the containers illwith I-bars 9 and 33, of greater height to allow enough space betweenthe bottom of the container and the car floor to allow the carriages 38to be run under the containers. The containers can then be seateddirectly on the floor of a flat car, and held in position thereon bymeans of the side and end stakes of the car. In this way any ordinarycontainer now in use can be equipped with I-bars on the bottom of thecontainer floor and transferred in the manner above described.

AlthoughI have shown and described the carriages and actuatingmechanisms therefor as adapted to be operatedtransversely of the motortruck it will be understood they can if desired be arranged'parallel tothe center line of the truck so that the container can be received ordischarged from the rear end of the truck in a similar manner withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in considerabledetail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific detailsthereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in,substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within thescope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is;

1. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising aplurality of carriages, a frame for supporting each carriage and itsactuating mechanism, means for reciprocating the carriagessimultaneously, a plurality of jacks mounted on each carriage adapted tobe simultaneously operated by fluid pressure to support a merchandisecontainer or the like during the loading and unloading operations, and aplurality of jacks having their upper ends attached to the supportingframes, and fluid pressure means for simultaneously actuating the saidjacks attached to the frames for vertically adjusting the carriages andactuating mechanism.

2. A loading and unloading apparatus for a merchandise container or thelike comprising 9.

plurality of supporting frames, a carriage and actuating mechanismtherefor mounted on each frame, said actuating mechanism being mountedin a frame adapted for longitudinal movement, a pair of sprocket wheelshaving their axles journaled in each end of the longitudinally movableframe, a fixed journal bearing block mounted on the supporting frame, asprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels having its ends attachedto the fixed journal bearing block, a connection between the carriageand the sprocket chain, and screw feeding means adapted to advance orretract the longitudinally movable frame for the actuating mechanism.

3. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles comprising a pluralityof supporting frames, a carriage and actuating mechanism thereformounted on each frame adjacent to the carriage, a connection betweeneach carriage and each actuating mechanism, means for verticallyadjusting the supporting frames, a longitudinally movable frame forsupporting the carriage actuating mechanism, and means for horizontallyad vancing and retracting the carriages by means of the actuatingmechanisms.

4. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising aplurality of supporting frames, a carriage and an actuating mechanismtherefor mounted on each frame, a connection between each carriage andthe actuating mechanism, means for vertically adjusting the supportingframes simultaneously or individually, a longitudinally movable framefor supporting the carriage mechanism, means for horizontally advancingand retracting the movable frame for the carriage actuating mechanisms,and means for effecting a greater length of travel for the carriagesthan the actuating mechanisms.

5. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a motor truck for supporting the apparatus, a pluralityof ways formed on the motor truck, a carriage and actuating mechanismtherefor mounted in each way, jacks operated by fluid pressure forsimultaneously or individually vertically adjusting the carriages andactuating mechanism, a plurality of jacks mounted on the carriages,fluid pressure means adapted to raise the jacks into supportingengagements with the said merchandise container or the like adapted tobe conveyed, and means for advancing and retracting the carriagessimultaneously.

6. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles comprising a motortruck, a plurality of transverse ways formed on the motor truck, aplurality of saddle seating channels mounted on the motor truck adjacentto the transverse ways for receiving a merchandise container or the liketo be conveyed, a carriage and actuating mechanism therefor mounted ineach transverse way, a plurality of vertically movable supporting jacksmounted on each carriage, and screw feeding means adapted tosimultaneously advance or retract the carriages.

'7. The combination with two adjacently disposed floors, each having aplurality of parallel saddle seating surfaces arranged with interveningspaces, the saddle seating surfaces of one floor being adapted toregister in end-to-end relationship with the parallel saddle seatingsurfaces on the other floor, a load transferring apparatus mounted onone floor comprising a plurality of carriages adapted for horizontalmovement, actuating mechanism for horizontally advancing and retractingeach carriage, vertically movable means mounted on each carriage adaptedto support the load during the transferring operation, and means forsimultaneously raising or lowering said carriages and actuatingmechanism.

8. The combination with two adjacently disposed fioors, each having aplurality of channels forming parallel saddle seating surfaces arrangedwith intervening spaces adapted to support a merchandise container orthe like, the saddle seating surfaces on one floor being adapted toregister in end-to-end relationship and in alignment with the channelsforming parallel saddle seating surfaces on the other floor, meanssecured to the channels forming the saddle seating surfaces forpositioning the container, stops pivoted to the ends of the saddleseating channels'for holding the containers against displacement on thesaddle seating surfaces, a plurality of trackways on each floor arrangedadjacent to and parallel with the saddle seating surfaces, transferringapparatus for the container mounted on one fioor comprising a pluralityof carriages and actuating mechanisms adapted for horizontally advancingand retracting each carriage, a frame for supporting each carriage andactuating mechanism, a trackway on each frame, wheels carried by each ofthe carriages for engaging the trackways mounted on the frame, aplurality of fluid pressure operated jacks on each carriage adapted forvertical movement to support the container during the transferringoperation and a plurality of jacks attached to each frame and operatedsimultaneously for vertically adjusting and supporting the carriages intheir adjusted positions.

9. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising aplurality of supporting frames mounted on a motor truck, a carriage andan actuating mechanism therefor mounted on each frame, a trackway oneach supporting frame, wheels on each of the carriages for engaging thetrackways, a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks mounted on thecarriages adapted to be raised into supporting engagement with amerchandise container or the like during the loading and unloadingoperations, said actuating mechanism for each carriage comprising asprocket chain connecting sprocket wheels, a

connection between the carriage and the sprocket chain, and means formoving the sprocket chain to horizontally advance or retract thevcarriage. 10. A .loading "and unloading apparatus forvehicles-comprisinga plurality of vertically mova pportinglframes', eachhaving a trackway secured thereto, a carriage'having rollers mounted' inieachv trackway, a longitudinally .movable frame mounted adjacent to:each trackway, a relatively-fixed bearing block and a movablesliding'block for supporting each of the longitudinallymovable=frames,-asprocket wheelat opposite ends of the .qlongitudinallymovable frames having their axles mounted therein, sprocket chainsconnecting each set of. sprocket-wheels having-their ends attached tothe relatively fixed bearing blocks, a connection between thev carriagesand each of the sprocket chains, and screw feeding means forhorizontally advancing and retracting the longitudinally movable framesand the carriages.

11. A loading andunloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising 'a motortruck, a plurality of vertically movable supporting frames, each havinga trackwayse'cured to their tops at one'side thereof, a carriage havingrollers engaging each trackway, a longitudinally movable frame mountedadjacent to each trackway, a relatively fixed bearing block attached toeach supporting frame and a movable sliding block for supporting each ofthe longitudinally movable frames, sprocket wheels having their axles.journaled in opposite ends of the longitudinally movable frames,

sprocket chains connecting the sprocket wheels having their endsattached to the relatively fixed bearing blocks, a connection betweenthe carriages and the sprocket chains, a sleeve nut journaled in each ofthe relatively fixed bearing blocks, a feed screw threaded into each ofthe sleeve nuts and keyed to the movable sliding blocks, and means forrotating the sleeve nuts on the feed screws for horizontally advancingand retracting the longitudinally movable frames and the carriages.

12. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a motortruck, a plurality of vertically movable supporting frames, each havinga trackway secured to their tops at one side thereof, a carriage havingrollers engaging each trackway,a longitudinally movable frame at oneside of the top of the longitudinally movable supporting frame adjacentto each of the trackways, a relatively fixed journal bearing blockattached to the vertically movable supporting frame near one end, abracket mounted on the opposite end of said supporting frame, a pair ofguide bars connecting each of the relatively fixed journal bearingblocks with the brackets, a sleeve nut journaled in each bearing block,a traveling feed screw threaded in each sleeve nut, a movable slidingblock keyed to and supporting one end of each of the feed screws, andmeans for rotating the sleeve nuts for advancing and retracting thecarriages.

13. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising avertically adjustable supporting frame, a carriage mounted thereon, a1ongitudinally movable frame mounted on the vertically adjustablesupporting frame, a pair of relatively fixed journal bearings mounted onthe vertically adjustable supporting frame, a feed screw having its endsjournaled in the relatively fixed journal bearings, a traveling nutthreaded on the feed screw, a sprocket wheel having its axle journaledin the.travelingnutandone end of the longitudinally movable frame, asprocket wheel having its axle journaled inthe opposite end of thelongitudinally .movableframe to that of the sprocket wheel havingritsax1e.' 1jour1naled in the traveling ,nutga sprocket chainc'onnectriagehaving'rollers engaging each .of the track ways, a longitudinallymovable frame mounted at one side of the top of the vertically movablesupporting frame adjacent to the trackway,, a car: riage, a pair ofrelatively fixed journal bearings on the vertically movable supportingframe, a longitudinally movable frame, a feed screw having its endsjournaled in the relatively fixed journal bearings, a traveling nutthreaded on the feed screw, a sprocket wheel having its axle journaledin the flanges extending fromthe traveling nut and one end of thelongitudinally movable frame, 75

a sprocket wheel having its axle journaled in the opposite end of thelongitudinally movable frame to that of the sprocket wheel having itsaxle journaled in the travelingnut, a sprocket chain connecting thesprocket wheels and secured. to one of the fixed journal bearings forthe feed screw, a connection between the sprocket chain and thecarriage, and means for rotating the feed screw to advance or retractthe carriage.

15. A freight car comprising a body having a floor adapted to receive aplurality of containers or the like, a plurality of channels in thefloor of the car arranged in pairs to form saddle seating surfaces foreach container, a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely ofeach of the saddle seating surfaces and secured to the channels, a pairof channels in the floor at intermediate points between each pair ofchannels forming saddle seating surfaces adapted to form trackways,notched members connected to the bottom of each container for engagingthe spaced transversely extending bars on the saddle seating surfaces,for positioning the containers on the car, a stop pivoted to each of theopposite ends of the channels forming the saddle seating surfaces forlocking the' containers in position on the car, means for releasng the:stop, carriages having rollers adapted to engage the trackways, meansmounted on the carriages for raising the containers out of engagementwith the saddle seating surfaces, and means for actuating the carriagesto convey the containers.

16. A freight car comprising a body having a floor adapted to receiveand support a plurality of containers, a plurality of channels in thecar floor arranged in pairs to form saddle seating surfaces for eachcontainer, a plurality of spaced members secured to each of the channelsforming saddle seating surfaces, a pair of channels in the car floor atintermediate points between each pair of channels forming the saddleseating surfaces adapted to form trackways, notched members connected tothe bottom of each container for engaging the spaced members on thesaddle seating surfaces for positioning the containers on the car floor,carriages having rollers adapted to engage the trackways, jacks mountedon the carriages for raising the containers out of engagement with thesaddle seating surfaces, and means for reciprocataing the carriages toconvey the containers.

17. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a wheeled truck for transporting said apparatus and acontainer carried thereby, a supporting frame mounted on said truck, ahorizontally movable carriage on said frame, means for projecting saidcarriage outwardly from said truck in order to position it beneath acontainer resting upon a platform or upon another vehicle, and a fluidpressure operated jack carried by said frame and adapted to be extendedto contact with the ground and to elevate the frame and the carriagesupported thereby, and means for automatically retracting said jack uponrelease of the fluid pressure operating means.

18. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a wheeled truck for-transporting said apparatus and acontainer carried thereby, a supporting frame mounted on said truck, ahorizontally movable carriage on said frame, means also carried by saidframe for projecting said carriage outwardly from said truck in order toposition it beneath a container resting upon a platform or upon anothervehicle, and a. fluid pressure operated jack carried by said frame andadapted to be extended to contact with the ground and to elevate theframe and the carriage, and actuating means supported there by, and aspring for automatically retracting said jack upon release of the fluidpressure operating means.

19. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a supporting frame, a second frame mounted forhorizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means operable to movesaid second named frame relatively to said supporting frame, a carriagehorizontally reciprocable upon said second named frame and meansassociated with said second named frame for automatically projectingsaid carriage outwardly from said supporting frame upon movement of saidsecond named frame, in order to position said carriage beneath acontainer resting upon an adjacent support.

20. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second framemounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, meansoperable to project said second named frame outwardly from saidsupporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable upon said secondnamed frame and mechanism associated with both of said framesandautomatically operative upon movement of said second named frame toproject said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame at twice thespeed and for twice the distance that the second named frame moves.

21. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second framemounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, meansoperable to project said second named frame outwardly from saidsupporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable .upon said secondnamed frame and mechanism associated with both of said frames andautomatically operative upon movement of said second named frame toproject said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame at twice thespeed and for twice the distance that frame mounted for horizontalmovement upon,

said supporting frame, means operable to proiect said second named frameoutwardly'from said supporting frame, a carriage horizontallyreciprocable upon said second named frame and mechanism associated withboth of said frames and automatically operative upon movement of saidsecond named frame to project said carriage outwardly from saidsupporting frame at twice the speed and for twice the distance that thesecond named frame moves, the means for projecting said second namedframe outwardly from said supporting frame comprising a threaded shaftrigidly connected to a portion of said second name'd frame, a rotatablesleeve carried by said supporting frame, threaded upon said shaft, andretained against longitudinal movement with respect to said supportingframe, and means for rotating said sleeve whereby said shaft may bemoved longitudinally in order to project said second named frame.

23. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or thelike comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second framemounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means formoving said second frame comprising a threaded shaft rigidly securedthereto and a rotatable sleeve, threaded upon said shaft, carried bysaid supporting frame, and secured against longitudinal movementthereon, and means for rotating said sleeve; a carriage horizontallyreciprocable upon said second named frame and means associated with saidsecond named frame for automatically project-,

chain having its ends secured toa stationary porv tion of saidsupporting frame and passed around spaced sprocket wheels rotatablymounted on said second named frame and a connection between saidcarriage and an intermediate portion of said chain.

RALPH FRANKLIN MATTOX.

